Julie Matheson
Former Subiaco Councillor | Certified Financial Planner | Western Australia Party Convenor
Shire of Mundaring to be abolished
NOTICE OF MEETING FROM STONEVILLE AND PARKEVILLE PROGRESS ASSOCIATION INC.
Greetings,
Many of you will have heard the news that the City of Swan’s borders will be changed to completely abolish the Shire of Mundaring. This is the worst possible outcome for residents in the Shire of Mundaring.
The new City of Swan will have 163,000 ratepayers, and 15 councillors with no ward structure. The new councillors will be those who have the biggest cheque book to target the most populated areas. There is no guarantee that there will be any councillors who represent and understand the hills region and its unique qualities.
There are a number of actions that residents can take.
- The Shire of Mundaring will be holding a Community Forum on the changes on Wednesday 29 October from 6.30pm to 7.30pm at the Shire Administration Centre, 7000 Great Eastern Highway Mundaring. It is recommended that you attend this forum, and demand that the Shire represent ratepayer interests and undertake legal action against the State Government (as the Shire of Kalamunda is doing) to fight against the boundary change and abolishment of the Shire of Mundaring and to restore our democratic rights with fair representation.
- Telephone or write to our local (Liberal) member for parliament, Mr Frank Alban. His phone number is 9296-7688 and his email address is frank.alban@mp.wa.gov.au and let him know your thoughts on the state governments decision and who you will be voting for at the next State election (in 2017).
There are a number of points that you can raise in your objections to this decision:
There has not been a consistent application of standards for councils- some councils have been amalgamated, whilst some have had border changes. The councils which are perceived to have a population which will potentially oppose an amalgamation (like Kalamunda and Mundaring) have had border changes whilst those shires which are more supportive have been allowed amalgamations;
- Currently the Shire of Mundaring has 30,000 electors with 12 councillors which is a ratio of 2,500 electors to 1 councillor. Under the proposed changes some of the new councils will have 60,000 electors with 12 councillors (a ratio of 5000 to 1) whilst the new City of Swan will have 160,000 electors and 15 councillors (a ratio of 10,800 to 1). This change is a significant dilution of representation. There is no fairness and consistency in this approach;
- With a land area of 1,677km2 the new City of Swan will be the largest shire by land area;
- The lack of ward structures will remove a fundamental principal of direct community representation;
- The government has broken its promise not to force amalgamations;
- The community has been stripped of its democratic rights (through the Dadour Amendment) to determine the future of its local government;
- The government has failed to provide an account of the costs of amalgamating or border changes, or to provide sufficient funds for council costs in this process.
There will be a small window of opportunity for community members to demand change, and that is now. Please come along on Wednesday night to the community forum or if you are unable to attend please send an email to Shire President, Cr Helen Dullard at CrDullard@mundaring.wa.gov.au to demand that the Shire acts to protect our democratic rights.
Kind regards
Kristi Turner
Secretary
And
Greg Jones
Chairman
Stoneville and Parkerville Progress Association Inc.
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The strangest thing is that Helen Dullard, who is a member of the Local Government Advisory Board is breaking ranks – at least on Swan-Mundaring. See her statement on the Shire of Mundaring website – http://www.mundaring.wa.gov.au/news/Lists/News/DispForm.aspx?List=ca942528-79bb-4f3e-a4d6-19cf412c5599&ID=609